Sunday, December 13, 2015

The San Jose Holiday Epicurean Markets


WHAT ARE THE SAN JOSE HOLIDAY EPICUREAN MARKETS?
For the first three Saturdays of December, SJMADE will be curating a holiday showcase of San Jose and Silicon Valley's best food/drink makers and food/drink-related makers at Whole Foods Market San Jose. Think of it as a joyous celebration of San Jose and Silicon Valley's foodie, coffee and beer culture. In addition to our amazing local food/drink makers and food/drink-related makers, Whole Foods will have a delicious tasting menu available in the outdoor breezeway space and Mission Creek Brewing will have tasting experiences as well as full-glass experiences available.

Are The San Jose Holiday Epicurean Markets for YOU?
1. If you're looking to shop local high-quality food/drink makers for your holiday food shopping, so you and your loved ones can enjoy that super special small-batch sensation, the San Jose Holiday Epicurean Markets are for you.
2. If you like craft fairs for food and drink, the San Jose Holiday Epicurean Markets are for you.
3. If you like high-quality locally made food/drink goods, the San Jose Holiday Epicurean Markets are for you.
4. If you like amazing coffee and beer, the San Jose Holiday Epicurean Markets are for you.
5. If you're down with artisan quality, handmade quality, handcrafted quality then the San Jose Holiday Epicurean Markets are for you.

THE AMAZING LOCAL MAKER LINEUP FOR EPICUREAN MARKET
Racarons (http://racarons.com/)
Sweetdragon Baking Company (http://sweetdragonbaking.com/
I Dream of Cookies (https://www.facebook.com/idreamofcookies)
Tico Coffee Roasters (https://www.ticoroasters.com/)
Hella Hot Hot Sauce (http://www.hellahothotsauce.com/)
Wild Orchard (http://www.wildorchardcakes.com/)
Cake Therapy (http://www.caketherapybakery.com/)
Back Porch Bakery (http://www.back-porchbakery.com/)
Suha Suha Inc. (http://www.suhasuha.com/suha1.html))

LOCATION
Whole Foods Market San Jose
777 The Alameda
San Jose, CA 95126
10am-4pm

ABOUT WHOLE FOODS MARKET SAN JOSE
Whole Foods Market San Jose offers the wonderful food shopping experience of all Whole Foods however it also brings its popular coffee and juice bar as well as its amazing on-premises craft brewery Mission Creek Brewing. With tons of comfortable outdoor seating, free WiFi, an indoor cafe and a second-floor terrace with a beautiful view of downtown SJ, Whole Foods Market San Jose has become that chill central hangout for the downtown San Jose and The Alameda community!

Saturday, December 12, 2015

Saturday Stats: College Students Graduating From "Top-25" Schools are Flocking to San Jose

A recent report by Earnst shows how graduates at the top 25 universities in the country are flocking to the west coast. One very interesting stat is that 57% of recent grads in the San Jose Metro studied somewhere else. In comparison that number is just 31% for New York and 25% for Boston. The only Metro that beat San Jose was San Francisco at 58%.

Source: SVBJ


Friday, December 11, 2015

The San Jose Holiday Craft Markets


What are The San Jose Holiday Craft Markets?
For the first three weekends of December, SJMADE will be curating a holiday showcase of San Jose and Silicon Valley's best crafters and creatives in the amazing San Pedro Square Market located in downtown San Jose.

Are The San Jose Holiday Craft Markets for YOU?
1. If you're looking to shop local high-quality makers for your holiday shopping, so you and your loved ones can enjoy that super special small-batch sensation, the San Jose Holiday Craft Markets are for you.
2. If you like craft fairs, the San Jose Holiday Craft Markets are for you.
3. If you like high-quality locally made goods, the San Jose Holiday Craft Markets are for you.
4. If you like amazing art and even more amazing artists, the San Jose Holiday Craft Markets are for you.
5. If you're down with artisan quality, handmade quality, handcrafted quality then the San Jose Holiday Craft Markets are for you.

THE AMAZING LOCAL MAKER LINEUP
Le Petit Elefant (http://genevievesantos.com/)
Nomad West (http://www.nomadwest.com/)
Manic Designs (http://www.shopmanicdesigns.com/)
Pennie Post (http://penniepost.com/)
Maria Woods (http://www.mariawoods.com/)
SOOT (http://shop.soot.me/)
Capricorn Honey (http://www.capricornhoney.etsy.com/)
MPulsestudios (https://www.etsy.com/shop/mpulsestudios)
The Poppie Shop (https://www.etsy.com/shop/ThePoppieShop)
Kathryn Marie (http://kathrynmarieonline.com/)
TheLiquorLamp (http://www.theliquorlamp.com/)
Poshaq Silk Artwear (http://www.poshaq.com/)
Three Angels Inc. (http://threeangelsinc.com/)

LOCATION
San Pedro Square Market
87 N San Pedro St.
San Jose, CA 95110
Located in the part of the market in which B2 Coffee is located.
10am-5pm

ABOUT SAN PEDRO SQUARE MARKET
"The San Pedro Square Market is the Downtown San Jose meet-up place for foodies, music lovers, locally-made shop supporters, demanders of coffee perfection, history seekers, old-time barbershop hunters, social media followers, and wine and beer libation imbibers. The Market is the all-around best place to hang out with the open-air plaza and sidewalk cafe or inside one of three unique interior spaces. The lively public market includes over 20 unique vendors selling everything from sushi to tapas to home goods. The aromas of fresh ground coffee and wood-fired pizza fills three market halls."


Thursday, December 10, 2015

Six-Story Apartment and Retail Building Rising on The Alameda

Yet another residential project is coming to The Alameda, a district that is really blooming over the last few years. I think the Whole Foods which opened a year ago was just the inflection point the area needed.

This latest project will rise six stories and has a charming aesthetic that will go with the neighborhood. Included in the building are 168 apartments (some of which are "affordable housing") and a respectable 22,000 SQFT of commercial and office space. There could be up to four retail pads fronting The Alameda. Oh, and that Whole Foods I mentioned is right next door.

There will be a total of  273 parking spaces underground split between residents and guest parking for the commercial units. The developer will also pay $2 million to help fund a future expansion of Del Monte Park.

Ground-breaking has already taken place and the construction is expected to be completed in early 2018.

Source: The Merc, On The Alameda





Wednesday, December 9, 2015

Wednesday Wishlist: BART to Santana Row

Mark from Think Bigger San Jose is proposing a different alignment for Phase 2 of the BART extension into Silicon Valley. The Santa Clara BART station is highly redundant with Caltrain service and if not for the maintenance yard nearby, it would be considered mostly unnecessary. Yes, you have SCU and large development projects like the Coleman Highline are being planned for the area, but the need for BART there is far less than the route Mark proposes--taking BART through Midtown to the Santana Row and Valley Fair area. This is a region that is booming and is in desperate need for mass transit access. At the rate "Uptown" is growing, Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) is not going to cut it. Check out the thoughtful post and discussion right over here.



Tuesday, December 8, 2015

Santana Row December 2015-February 2016 News and Events


San Jose, CA - Santana Row ends the year on a high note with holiday celebrations that include a Holiday Open House, a benefit for Second Harvest Food Bank; and Santa Paws, a benefit for Humane Society Silicon Valley. Then get ready to count down to 2016 at your favorite Santana Row restaurants and posh Hotel Valencia. Be sure to keep early February open to join football fans for Super Bowl 50 festivities at The Row!

Sephora Now Open
Discover the latest in beauty products and gifts at Sephora’s Santana Row location! Explore its unrivaled selection of makeup, skin care, fragrance and more from classic and emerging brands. The 5,339 square-foot store is located on Santana Row Boulevard, next to Sino restaurant.

“Dear Santa…” Write a letter to Santa and get a letter back!

Through December 10

Write a letter to Santa and receive a reply! Beginning Nov. 17, every child who leaves a letter for Santa in the mailbox outside of the Santana Row concierge office will receive a reply from the red-clad, jolly fellow! Each letter must include the child’s name and a mailing address. The letters must be dropped in the box by Dec. 10. Concierge is located near the garage between Sino restaurant and Left Bank Brasserie.

Go Niners!
Take the Round Trip Shuttle to Levi’s Stadium from Santana Row
Avoid the headache of game day traffic! Take the shuttle from The Row to Levi’s Stadium for a hassle-free day that starts with easy parking, shopping and dining perks.
Shuttles leave exactly two hours before game time.
Games:
Sunday, Dec. 20, Niners vs. Bengals (departs at 3:30 p.m.)
Sunday, Jan. 3, 2016, Niners vs. Rams (departs at 11:25 a.m.)
Sunday, Feb. 7, 2016, Super Bowl 50 (departs at 1:15 p.m.)
The shuttle registration begins about 30 minutes before departure time. Registration and shuttles are located near the CineArts Theatre.
Your $30 ticket, which can be purchased in the concierge office or at SantanaRow.com, includes:
  • Round trip transportation to Levi’s Stadium
  • Free parking at Santana Row
  • Santana Row shopping and dining incentives

Details:
When you arrive at Santana Row, park your vehicle in the designated, secured parking lot on Winchester Boulevard in the former Century 21 Theatre area. Walk across Winchester Boulevard to Olsen Drive where the registration table and bus will be waiting to load in front of the theater. The bus departs at the scheduled time (two hours prior to game time), and will not wait for passengers.

Levi’s Stadium drop-off site:
The bus will park at the official shuttle drop-off location at the stadium. One hour after the conclusion of the game, the bus will depart from the same location. All passengers not on bus at the specified departure time, will not receive transportation back to Santana Row.

Santa Paws, a Benefit for the Humane Society Silicon Valley
Sunday, Dec. 6, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Your furry friends are ready for their holiday close up! Bring your canine and feline friends to Santana Row's Park Valencia for a keepsake photo with Santa Claus.
Photos are $20 with a portion of the proceeds going to the Humane Society Silicon Valley. Registration begins at 10:30 a.m. in Park Valencia.

Mommy & Me and Daddies, Too: “Celebrate the Season”
Tuesday, Dec. 8, 10 a.m. to noon
The last Mommy & Me of the year will be held in the lobby of the CineArts Theatre and will include live entertainment from Andy Z, story time with Mrs. Claus, treats, crafts and more holiday fun!
Details: 10 a.m. to noon in the lobby of CineArts Theatre. Mommy & Me & Daddies, Too is a free kids’ club held on the second Tuesday of every month from May through December. For more information, call 408.551.4611 or visit SantanaRow.com.

“Shop, Enjoy and Give” Holiday Open House
A Benefit for Second Harvest Food Bank
Tuesday, Dec. 8, 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Give to those in need while you complete your holiday shopping during Santana Row’s Holiday Open House, a benefit for Second Harvest Food Bank, which provides groceries and food to families and individuals in Santa Clara and San Mateo counties.
Purchase a $40 ticket on SantanaRow.com or at the Concierge center and receive complimentary food and wine tastings in Santana Row shops and restaurants, a signature Santana Row wine glass and exclusive shopping discounts. Enjoy holiday fashion modeling and special seasonal offerings. Bring a donation of canned food into concierge when you purchase your $40 ticket and receive $5 off the ticket. (Customers must be 21 years or older.)

Celebrate Chanukah at Santana Row
Sunday, Dec. 13, 3p.m. to 5 p.m., Park Valencia* near Maggiano’s restaurant
Santana Row celebrates the Jewish Festival of Lights in Park Valencia with family activities that include decorating dreidels, Jewish story time, arts and crafts and the lighting of the Menorah.
*In the event of rain, this event will be held inside the via between Left Bank and Sino restaurants.

Cars & Croissants, last gathering of the year until March
Dec. 26,  9 a.m. to noon
Santana Row partners with 100 OCT to present Cars & Croissants on The Row, a monthly gathering for exotic car owners and car enthusiasts. On the fourth Saturday of the month from March through December, exotic car owners are invited to park on Santana Row Boulevard from Alyssum Lane to Tatum Boulevard, display their cars and mingle with other enthusiasts. The morning meet-up for coffee, croissants and cars drew 400 people and 60 cars during the first event and continues to grow in popularity. This event is free and open to the public.

New Year’s Eve On The Row
Thursday, December 31
Two restaurants are open for lunch and dinner on the last day of 2015 with special menus and festivities for diners who stay until midnight.
LB Steak. Opens at 11:30 a.m. with the last seating at 11 p.m. The restaurant is serving a limited regular a la carte dinner menu plus a $82 four-course prix fixe with these entrée choices:
  • Pan-roasted jumbo Day Boat Scallops with wilted spinach, foie gras emulsion and frizzled leeks
  • Porcini-crusted filet mignon with Yukon Gold potato and shallot cake, green beans and winter mushroom mousselin

Prix fixe menu items will also be offered on an a la carte basis and the regular lunch menu will be served. There is no Happy Hour that day and all prices exclude beverages, tax and gratuity. The restaurant will be festively-decorated in the spirit of the occasion and guests for the evening's last seating will receive a complimentary sparkling wine toast and party favors at midnight. For more information or reservations please call, 408.244.1180.
Left Bank Brasserie. Opens at 11:30 a.m. with the last seating at 11p.m. The restaurant is serving a limited regular a la carte dinner menu plus a $68 four-course prix fixe menu with these main course choices:
  • Filet Mignon with truffle foie gras sauce, potato gratin and sautéed Bloomsdale spinach  
  • Butter poached Maine lobster tail with vanilla scented Happy Boy Farms roasted sweet potato purée

The restaurant's regular lunch menu will be served and there will not be Happy Hour service that day. Prix fixe menu items will be offered on an a la carte basis and all prices exclude beverages, tax and gratuity. Decorations include balloons and streamers and guests for the evening's last seating will receive a complimentary sparkling wine toast and party favors at midnight. For more information or reservations please call, 408.984.3500

New Year’s Eve at Hotel Valencia
Thursday, Dec. 31
Ring in the New Year in white and gold at the hottest spot on Santana Row. Hotel Valencia’s New Year's Eve celebration is always the toast of the town! Bid farewell to 2015 and welcome 2016 by taking advantage of the holiday package.
New Year’s Eve Valencia Masquerade Gala includes:
  • Luxury guest room for two
  • Champagne upon arrival
  • Admission to the Masquerade Gala featuring a DJ and an assortment of festive food stations
  • Midnight Champagne toast
  • Grand deluxe breakfast with mimosas, served on New Year's Day
  • Late check-out at 1 p.m. on New Year's Day
  • *Guests are encouraged to bring their own festive masks as limited quantities will be available on a first-come, first-served basis. 

Rates from $585 per room, per night, double occupancy, exclusive of tax; additional guests are $125 per person and subject to maximum occupancy.

Celebrate Super Bowl 50 at Santana Row!
Sunday, Feb. 7
One of the Bay Area’s most-talked about destination for food, fun and festivities
will be hosting Super Bowl events and offering shuttle service to hotel guests from select hotels and to Levi’s Stadium on game day. More details coming soon!
  • Live music in the parks and plazas from Thursday, Feb. 4, 2016 through Sunday, Feb. 7, 2016.
  • Round-trip shuttle service from the Hyatt, Hilton and Marriott hotels in Santa Clara to Santana Row. The free shuttles will be offered Friday and Saturday (Feb. 5 and 6, 2016) from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
  • Super Bowl ticket holders can conveniently pick up their tickets in the days leading up to the Big Game. Ticketmaster will be on site at Santana Row, next to Z Gallerie.

On Super Bowl Sunday, Santana Row will have its ongoing shuttle service to Levi’s Stadium for those going to the game. Shuttles depart two hours before game time!

Rainy Day Rewards, through March 31, 2016
Here’s hoping the rainy season returns! Santana Row is optimistic and wants to reward shoppers and diners braving bad weather. When there’s a 70 percent or greater chance for rain, they will be offered discounts that include 15 percent off purchases at participating shops and restaurants, a free signature Santana Row golf umbrella for customers who spend $150 anywhere on The Row and a $20 gift certificate to a participating shop or restaurant for customers who spend $300 on a designated Rainy Day.
No need to get wet: Customers can pick up a complimentary umbrella to use while shopping and dining and then return it before leaving. The yellow umbrellas are conveniently located throughout The Row: outside Concierge, Via between Village California Bistro and Lark Creek Blue and the valet parking lot in the Winchester Parking Garage.

Twitter Promotion @SantanaRow invites Tweets and Instagram tags
For a Chance to Win Gift Cards to Restaurants at The Row
Santana Row’s Twitter campaign and photo contest continues through the @SantanaRow Twitter handle. The contest invites anyone at Santana Row to Tweet or Instagram photos of a new outfit, haircut, meal, event or artsy shots and then tag it with the hash tag #LifeonTheRow. Every month, Santana Row will post an album on Facebook with all of the photos with the #LifeonTheRow hash tag. The person who took the best or most original photo will win a gift card to a Santana Row restaurant.

~~~

About Santana Row
Santana Row, a 647,000 square foot mixed-use development in San Jose, CA, is Silicon Valley’s premier destination for shopping, dining, living and working. Santana Row features over 70 shops, 20 restaurants, a boutique hotel and movie theatre. In addition to the dynamic retail & restaurant collection, Santana Row offers 615 luxury rental homes, 219 privately owned condos and 65,000 square feet of Class A office space. Santana Row is a property of www.federalrealty.com (NYSE:FRT), headquartered in Rockville, Maryland. For more information, please visit www.santanarow.com.

About Federal Realty
Federal Realty is a recognized leader in the ownership, operation and redevelopment of high-quality retail based properties located primarily in major coastal markets from Washington, D.C. to Boston as well as San Francisco and Los Angeles.  Founded in 1962, our mission is to deliver long term, sustainable growth through investing in densely populated, affluent communities where retail demand exceeds supply.  Our expertise includes creating urban, mixed-use neighborhoods like Santana Row in San Jose, California, Pike & Rose in North Bethesda, Maryland and Assembly Row in Somerville, Massachusetts. These unique and vibrant environments that combine shopping, dining, living and working provide a destination experience valued by their respective communities.  Federal Realty’s 90 properties include over 2,600 tenants, in approximately 21 million square feet, and 1500 residential units. 

Federal Realty has paid quarterly dividends to its shareholders continuously since its founding in 1962, and has increased its dividend rate for 48 consecutive years, the longest record in the REIT industry. Federal Realty shares are traded on the NYSE under the symbol FRT. For additional information about Federal Realty and its properties, visit www.FederalRealty.com.

Monday, December 7, 2015

Development Plan Around San Jose's First BART Station in Berryessa Might be Changing

The plans for one of the most important redevelopment in San Jose was developed over 10 years ago, which might as well be a century in terms of the development mindset in Silicon Valley. The San Jose Flea Market Area--which is in the immediate vicinity of the first and likely only BART station in San Jose for many years to come--is supposed to be redeveloped into 2,818 residential units and a paltry 365,622 SQFT of commercial space across 120 or so acres (4-6 story buildings). That might have been fine in 2004, but by 2017 our needs for housing, commercial, and supporting retail around mass transit are going to be quite different unless there is a major economic shift.

Going small near BART will only add to future traffic problems and reduce the effectiveness and potential of our multi-billion dollar BART extension. Currently the developers are looking to add 37,000 SQFT of ground-floor retail and an extra 95 units to the northern section of the Flea Market site. It is a tiny step in the right direction, but is far from enough. We have a golden opportunity here to go dense and add tax-generating commercial space accessible to 80% of the Bay Area's population.

As an example, please watch the video below of what is being built in Milpitas a quarter mile away from the Milpitas BART station. The Flea Market project is transit ground zero, the BART station is right there in easy walking distance. What you see in the video below is the absolute minimum we should be doing with the San Jose BART station.

Source: SVBJ


The District in Milpitas from The Registry on Vimeo.


Sunday, December 6, 2015

An Emotional Game

An emotional game.  A passionate game.  A game only the most ambitious can win.

I write, of course, about the NHL, and more specifically, our Sharks.  In today’s fast paced sport with largely even teams, skill can only go so far before work ethic and desire must take over to be advantageous.

Skill certainly helps define how well a hockey player can execute in any given game, but as any ardent observer of hockey can confirm, it is the will and hunger that ultimately determines the difference between winning and losing.  In an era where there each game presents no discernible certainty of victory, it is only true desire, which in turn fuels better execution, that provides the advantage.

Many can assume that the Chicago Blackhawks or the Los Angeles Kings, the only two teams to have had multiple Stanley Cup Victories in the last six years, are the strongest teams and have the best chance of winning.  While having postseason success is indeed the mark of superior hockey playing, by skills alone, it is inconclusive to determine, on stats alone, that the current Blackhawks or Kings team are better than any other team out there.  The Blackhawks, for example, have dropped the last three games in a row.

From a standpoint of skill, the Sharks are unquestionably one of the top NHL teams in the league.  If the results of today’s hockey are dictated by skill alone, the Sharks would have no problems finishing in the very top amongst perennial playoff contenders each year.  I mean, look at Joe Thornton, arguably the best playmaker on the ice today (still!), and a combination of terrific young talent (e.g. Karlsson, Donskoi, Hertl) to complement the veteran leadership.  How about the amazing consistency of Captain Joe Pavelski?  Fans will remember, of course, that the Sharks did not qualify for the playoffs last year for the first time in over a decade.  Why is that?  What happened?

The lackluster finish should be clear to fans of the team.  As a whole, there was a lack of emotion, a lack of passion.  No aggressive net crashing.  No accurate passing or shooting.  No desire to take it to the postseason, despite having the skill to do so.

Often times, just by watching the first five to ten minutes of any Sharks game, I can predict the end result.  From a game’s onset, if I witness energetic speed, pinpoint pass and shot accuracy, and aggressiveness, the Sharks generally have a good chance of winning.  Some of the most exciting games I have witnessed the Sharks play came against the rival Anaheim Ducks last year (a team that finished high in the league standings), where their overt display of toughness and energy allowed them to win in four out of their five total contests (with their only loss coming from overtime).  Sure, the Sharks had moments of brilliance against other teams, but the body checks were not as hard, the players did not appear as fast, and the team did not seem to quickly adapt to their opponents’ changing strategy.

It is easy to see when our boys in teal decide to “turn it on,” like in such instances where one would be convinced their proficiency at scoring goals is better on the penalty kill or even strength than the power play.  The team’s proficiency is more than just executing good strategies.  It is the requirement to be hungry and aggressive.  Watch any NHL game today, and you will find that most goals come from an intense rush from one end to another, and with players cognizant of each other’s position as to increase the awareness of where a passed or rebounded puck will end up.  Remember, proper crashing of the net translates to goals, as does reading, understanding, and adapting to the opposition.

Last night’s game against the Tampa Bay Lightning was a good example of the polarizing impact of playing with emotion.  The Sharks lost 4-3 in regulation, but at one time was at a 4-1 deficit in the third period.  Early on in the game, the Sharks were indeed not playing well, made worse by bad reads, such as missed passes to the point (i.e. the area in the back of the offensive zone where defensemen often stand) and lack of energy.  This is not to say the Sharks displayed no energy (besides, who am I to comment on the ethic of seasoned pro athletes?), but I have seen far better execution.

At the second half of the game, with the Sharks at that point down 2-0, the team started performing extremely well.  The Sharks not only maintained significant control of the puck, but managed to get off a lot of shots through to Lightning goaltender Ben Bishop as well.  Most notable was the performance of Brent Burns, likely the best example on the Sharks of playing complete, passionate hockey.  At of today, Burns is third in the league in points for defenseman, and first in goals (with ten).  During the game, Burns not only got unleashed his devastating shot (with a team leading seven), and scoring, he also set up plays for others, and at one defining moment of an offensive power play push, blocked a clearing attempt by the Lightning and kept the play moving.  This play set up the first goal of the game from a blast by Matt Tennyson.

Shooting repeatedly at the net, skating hard, and having constant awareness of one’s teammates is critical in the NHL for steering one’s team to victory.  The Sharks may have unlocked their potential late in the game, the attempted rally was too late to overcome the struggles of the first half, complemented with timely blocks and fortunate saves by the Lightning.  With a game as fast as the NHL, even dropping one’s guard for one minute can be the difference between winning and losing, especially in games where the decision is by one goal.

If the Sharks play like they did the second half of yesterday’s game, they will finish at the top of the Pacific Division.  Likewise, if they do not, the team must attempt to rely on their skill to win games; however, as I mentioned earlier on, how far can skill alone really take a team in the NHL? This year, we finally have solid leadership with the team of Joe Pavelski (C) - Joe Thornton (A) - Logan Couture (A). May they inspire the team to carry through a successful 2015-2016 season!

(Despite how the game turned out, wishing all the best for goaltender Ben Bishop, whose unprotected neck was the unfortunate recipient of Tomas Hertl’s deflected stick.  Hope for a speedy recovery!)